American Travel Associates Joins Everyfare

3rd Mar 2003

ENCINO, Calif. - American Travel Associates, a corporate travel management firm headquartered here, has joined the American Airlines EveryFare program, which provides American Travel access to American’s popular “Web fares” via its Global Distribution System (GDS).

Under the program, American Travel will assume responsibility for portions of GDS booking fees previously paid by American, in exchange for access to American’s Web fares
“In today’s climate, we owe it to our customers to pursue every possible avenue to deliver lower, bottom-line travel costs,” said Jeff Klee, CEO of American Travel Associates. “We have succeeded where other travel agencies have faltered only by being relentless in our efforts to find, aggregate, and negotiate the lowest available fares. With the EveryFare program, we are once again demonstrating that commitment.”

American Travel’s Director of Corporate Relations Aimee Prunier added, “There is a perceived trade off between a high level of travel management services and access to some of the low, discounted airfares that are frequently available on the Internet. Our clients, though, deserve and demand both, and that is why we are delighted to be a part of the EveryFare program.”

“A top-quality agency like American Travel is a tremendous addition to the EveryFare program,” said Craig Kreeger, American’s vice president-Sales. “With EveryFare, American Travel Associates will provide its clients the full range of American’s public fares through their GDS plus Web fares and at the same time help us reduce overall distribution costs. We’re delighted to welcome American Travel Associates to the EveryFare program.”

Klee added, “Although the EveryFare program does come at a cost to us with respect to GDS fees, we feel that the benefits to our clients far outweigh that cost.”
American announced the innovative EveryFare program in September 2002 and is making its popular Web fares available for sale by any traditional “bricks and mortar” U.S. or Canadian travel agency that signs up for the EveryFare program. As a result, EveryFare participants become long-term, lower-cost distribution channels for American.

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The innovative EveryFare program provides Web fares in exchange for effectively shifting the responsibility for the cost of GDS booking fees from American to the travel agency. American initially gives travel agencies an allowance credit of approximately US$4 per flight coupon. Travel agents then pay to American an amount equal to their own GDS fees, based upon their own choice of GDS services and products.
The allowance paid agencies gradually declines during the term of the contract to allow EveryFare program participants time to seek lower GDS fees. The result will be lower distribution costs for American on all fares distributed via participating EveryFare agencies.

More information about this innovative program is available online at http://www.aa.com/everyfare or simply by clicking on “Business & Agency Programs” on the AA.com home page.
About American Travel Associates:
Established in 1991, American Travel Associates is a full-service travel agency which provides travel management services to small and mid-sized companies across the country. Using proprietary fare search software developed in-house and an aggressive approach to negotiating fares, American Travel delivers unparalleled cost savings to its corporate customers. For more information, please visit www.amtrav.com.

About American Airlines, Inc.:
American Airlines is the world`s largest carrier. American, in concert with American Eagle and the AmericanConnection regional carriers, makes up the American Airlines network. Together, they serve more than 250 cities in 41 countries and territories with approximately 4,400 daily flights. The combined network fleet numbers more than 1,100 aircraft. Only American provides More Room Throughout Coach for More Coach Passengers. American Airlines is a founding member of the one world alliance. ——-